The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-02-26
oRAzgp BY A LAWYER.
n Gross Examination which Made "
ness' Reason Totter on Its Throne.


ness' Reason Tottcr on Its Throne.
What ruined me and got me into
lunatic asylum was this: used to have
q strong contempt for lawyers. !
thought their long ross-cxaminations
were brainless dialogues for no purpose.
Lawyer johnson had me as witness in
a wood case. In my direct testimony I
had sworn truthfully that John Hall
had cut ten cords Of wood in three days.
Then johnson sharpened his pencil and
commenced examining me.
''Now, Mr.. Perkins," he began, how
much wood do you say was cut by Mr..
Hallp'
Just ten cords, SIR" I answered,
boldly. II measured it."
That's your impressionp"
"Ycs, SIR"
"Well, we don't want Impressions
sir. What we wants is facts before this
jury-f-a-c-t-s, sir, facts!'
"The witness will please state facts
hereafter" said the Judge, while the
crimson came to my face.
''Now, SIR continued johnson,
pointing his finger at me, twill you
swear 1t was more than nine cordsp'
Eyes, sire Itwas ten cords-just--''
"There! never mind" interrupted
johnson. "Now, how much less than
twelve cords were theref"
1.-TWO cords, SIR"
"How do you know there were just
two cords less, sirP Did you measure
those two cords, sirP" asked johnson,
savagely.
"'No, sir, L"
"There, that will do! You did not!
measure it, just as 1 expected. All
guess-work. Now, didn't you swear
moment ago that you measured this
] woodp"
"Yes, sir, but"
"Stop, sir! The jury will notice this
discrepancy"
'Now, sir,n continued johnson,
SLOWLY, as he pointed his finger almost
'down my throat. 'Now, sir, on your
oath, will you swear that there were
not ten cords and halfP"
"Yes, SIR" / answered, meekly.
"Well, now, Mr.. Perkins, demand
q straight answer-a truthful answer,
SIR"
T-t-ten c-c-ords," I answered,
hesitatingly.
"You sweariitp''
| "-I-d-d-do."
| "Now," continued johnson, as he
smiled satirically, "do you know the
penaltv of periurv. sir.''
"Yes, sir, i think-"
ION your oath, on your solemn oath,
with no evasion, are you willing to per-
jure yourself by solemnly swearing that
there was more than nine cords of
woodp''
Eyes, sir. L"
"Aha! Yes, sir. You are willing to
perjure yourself, then? just as 1
thought Cunning to the judgeD you
see, your Honor, that this wihness is
prevaricating. He is not willing to
swear that there were more than nine
cords of wood. 1t is infamous, gentle
men of the jury, such testimony as this
The jury nodded assent and smiled sar-
castically atme.
| "NOW,' SAID johnson. 81 will ask
this perjured witness just one more
question. will ask you. sir-do you
know-do you realize, sir, what an
awfnl-a-w-f-n-l thing it is to tell a
liep'
"Yes, sir, III said, my voice trembling.
"And knowing this, you swear on
your solemn'oath that there were about
nine cords Of woodp"
mo, sir, Ldon't do any thing .df-''
"Hold on, ssir! How do you know
there were just nine cordsp''
II don't know any such thing, sir!
Ill"
1 "Aha! you.tlon't know, thcnp Just
as 1 expected. And you swore yCu did
sknow Swore you measured it. Infa-
Simous! Gentlemen of the jury, what
isshall we do with this perjurer?"
''But /"
''Not word, >sir--hush! This, jury
shall not be irsulted by a perjurer."'
''Call the next witnessr'
This is why Lam keeping books lin a
9unatic asylum.-Bufalo Cypress
HOURS OF LABOR.